Chemical Depot’s new residents

PUEBLOPLEX APPEARS to have secured a new tenant for the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

And the redevelopment group pushing reuse of the depot is working with an existing partner in a new way.

Bechtel, the builder of the plant charged with destroying chemical weapons at the site, wants to lease modular office space near its plant. The project would require a $1 million investment on PuebloPlex’s part, which would be repaid via federal contracts.

But Bechtel is apparently not the only government-related group interested in calling a portion of the 16,000-acre megasite home. Although details on the second potential tenant are scarce, it appears a federal agency wants to use a portion of the depot as a training facility. Renovations for the second project are also expected to ring in at around $1 million.

PuebloPlex is considering taking out $2 million in loans to finance the improvements for the would-be occupants.

The 23,000-acre Depot has been in operation east of the city for more than 70 years. It was an Army storage facility prior to its decommissioning in 1988. At that point, all of its missions terminated except for the storage and destruction of chemical weapons.

The U.S. Army retained control of about a third of the campus, but declared 16,000 acres surplus. PuebloPlex, which was formerly known as the depot’s reuse authority, is responsible for marketing and repurposing the site.

Bechtel and the federal agency are promising new additions, and we thank PuebloPlex Executive Director Russell DeSalvo and his team for bringing them on board.

All told, the Pueblo Chemical Depot is an amazing space with more than 3 million square-feet of building space and 14 outdoor storage areas, according to the PuebloPlex website. Currently, more than 70 tenants lease buildings and igloos, and account for 25 on-site employees.

As Pueblo continues to struggle economically, we view this site as a valued resource for getting a community steeped in industrial history back on its feet.